European stocks traded mixed on Thursday, as investors continue to seek direction and with U.S. markets closed. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up 0.15% at 1:13 p.m. London time. Oil and gas stocks pulled ahead with a 1.2% gain despite the continued fall in oil prices after OPEC delayed a key meeting. Travel stocks led losses, down by 0.9%. Preliminary purchasing managers’ index data from the euro zone for November showed employment fell for the first time in nearly three years. Business activity continued to decline, though the rate of contraction slowed in output and new business. Investors are also watching Dutch election results after an exit poll showed right-wing populist Geert Wilders to be on track for a dramatic victory with his Freedom Party, the PVV. Asia-Pacific markets are mixed after Wall Street went into the Thanksgiving holiday with a broad based rally. In Asia-Pacific, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.62% and ended at 7,029.2, extending losses from the day before. The country saw its business activity contract at a faster pace in November, according to flash estimates from Judo Bank. Australia’s composite purchasing managers index slid to 46.4, down from October’s 47.6. South Korea’s Kospi recorded its fourth straight day of gains, closing 0.13% higher at 2,514.96 and the small-cap Kosdaq advanced 0.17% to finish at 815.98. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index reversed earlier losses to gain 0.92% in its final hour of trading, and the mainland Chinese CSI 300 index was 0.48% up, ending the day at 3,561.52. Japan’s markets are closed due to a public holiday. Oil prices fell 1% in early trading on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session, after OPEC+ postponed a ministerial meeting stoking views the producers might cut output less than earlier anticipated. Brent futures fell 81 cents, or 1%, to $81.15 a barrel, after falling as much as 4% on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dipped 72 cents, or 0.9%, to $76.40, after declining as much as 5% in the previous session. Trade was expected to remain muted due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. Gold prices rose on Thursday, hovering close to a key $2,000 per ounce level, as an overall weaker U.S. dollar and lower Treasury yields buoyed demand for bullion. Spot gold was up 0.4% at $1,997.39 per ounce, as of 0354 GMT, after hitting a three-week high of $2,007.29 on Tuesday. U.S. gold futures gained 0.3% to $1,998.60.